Shop Maine Craft presents:
A NEW CHAPTER
On view SEPTEMBER 2, – OCTOBER 26, 2025
The Center for Maine Craft proudly presents A New Chapter, an exhibit featuring the work of two Maine-based makers whose practices transform tradition into fresh, contemporary narratives. This dual exhibition showcases BiblioQuilts by Larry Clifford and handcrafted furniture by Brian Haddock of Rural Modern Furniture.
Larry Clifford | BiblioQuilts
Larry Clifford’s BiblioQuilts are striking mixed media works made entirely from discarded and damaged books salvaged from libraries, basements, and attics across New England. With a meticulous process that honors the tactile and historical qualities of each deaccessioned book, Clifford repurposes covers, spines, and pages into thousands of hand-cut “tiles.” These paper fragments are dyed, inked, and painted, then assembled into quilt-like compositions that echo the warmth and pattern of traditional textiles while engaging with themes of memory, loss, and preservation.
The work combines two of my lifelong passions: visual art and literature. When I wasn’t running around outside as a kid growing up in suburban Boston, I could be found reading in our local library. This led to me collecting old, neglected books that I consider beautiful or interesting (although not necessarily valuable)–a hobby that continues to this day.
After earning a B.A. in Art from Northwestern University then an M.A. in Biomedical Communications from the University of Texas, I spent 15 years producing award-winning biomedical illustrations, with an emphasis on traditional media like pen-and-ink, carbon dust, and watercolor. At this stage of my career, I’m thrilled to be getting back to my roots as a maker of fine art.
Larry Clifford’s Exhibitions
2025
Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton, MA)
Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery (Annville, PA)
Arundel Farm Gallery (Arundel, ME)
Weston Public Library (Weston, MA)
Wayland Free Public Library (Wayland, MA)
Thomas Memorial Library (Cape Elizabeth, ME)
Westwood Public Library (Westwood, MA)
Center for Maine Craft (Gardiner, ME)
2026
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art (Laurel, MS)
Memorial Hall Library (Andover, MA)
Barrington Public Library (Barrington, RI)
2027
Camden Public Library (Camden, ME)
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Fairfield University
Ken Burns American Quilts
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Brian Haddock | Rural Modern Furniture
Furniture maker Brian Haddock builds each of his pieces by hand in a small shop in Freeport, Maine, under the name Rural Modern Furniture. His work is rooted in the visual language of his childhood spent on a farm in rural Maine, blended with a lifelong interest in architecture, design, and traditional craftsmanship.
My designs are drawn from visual memories of my experiences growing up on an old farm in rural Maine combined with my life long interest in architecture, craft and contemporary design.
My ideas are my own. The shop is not a manufactory. The furniture is made one piece at a time. I’m doing work that I enjoy and I hope that my furniture will bring enjoyment to you as well.
Haddock’s furniture is constructed exclusively from select grade Eastern White Pine, a wood historically favored by New England makers since the 1600s. Emphasizing clean joinery, durable construction, and functional design, Haddock uses no nails, staples, or manufactured wood materials. The water-based stains he applies are mixed in-house, allowing for a unique finish on every piece. The result is a body of work that is sturdy, honest, and deeply tied to place, both in its material and in its maker’s ethos.
With a background that includes architectural design, house carpentry, millwork, and cabinet making, Haddock approaches each piece as an opportunity to create something original. His work resists trend and imitation, instead carving out space for meaningful, lasting objects in an increasingly disposable world.
A New Chapter invites viewers to reflect on the stories embedded in materials, be it the paper of abandoned books or the grain of locally sourced timber, and the potential for art and craft to carry those stories forward.
Visit the Center for Maine Craft:
288 Lewiston Rd West Gardiner, ME 04345
Open Daily, 9am – 6pm
(207)588-0021
center@shopmainecraft.com
